Nouri Al Rawi (Iraqi, 1925-2014)

Nouri Al Rawi was a multi-disciplinary artist ahead of his time, for he was not only a painter, but also a sculptor, art historian, television presenter, and art critic. His work often portrays mystical oriental towns built around his magical childhood village of Rawa, in the Ambar province of Iraq. Rawa is a very green and fertile place that preoccupied his entire production. This work is a fine example from this series with small houses close one to another, appearing much like a family.

He is famous for writing one of the earliest books documenting Iraqi art, titled Reflections on Modern Iraqi Art, 1962 as well as a few other books on art history such as Introduction to Iraqi Folklore, 1962 and Jawad Saleem, 1963.